In 1971 the Soviet lander Mars 3 was the first soft landing on the red planet. The lander only operated for aproximately 15 seconds, then the device failed. Since its first landing, Mars 3’s resting place has been unknown. “For a brief moment, it was the robot king of Mars.”

It seems that a team of amateur researchers have located the Mars 3. Images taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2007 may have spotted its resting place. Along with the lander, the lander’s descent module and heat shield and its parachute may have also been uncovered.

The current king of Mars, the Curiosity Rover cannot verify the researchers findings as it is thousands of kilometers away.

[Source: Scientific American]